Uniform

Clifton Hill Primary School is very proud to offer its students school uniforms that are nearly all made locally and not produced in sweatshops. We hope you and your kids will love them. Previously our uniforms were manufactured overseas in sweatshops where often workers are paid low wages and work long hours under harsh conditions.

Our uniforms are made by Qualitops in Reservoir. Qualitops is certified by Ethical Clothing Australia. This means everyone involved in the production of our uniform receives, as a minimum, the legal rates of pay and basic entitlements as well as workers' compensation and superannuation.

Our socks are made in Heathmont by Humphrey Law which is an Ethical Clothing Australia accredited manufacturer.

Melbourne firm Etiko – founded by Gold Street old-boy Nick Savaidis – has offered us a great deal on their ethical sneakers. These black canvas sneakers are made in Pakistan in workshops that are certified fair-trade and free of child labour. The soles are made of real rubber (not petroleum-based synthetic) grown in FSC-certified forests. The uppers, stitching and laces are made from organic cotton. 15% of the cost price goes to funding community development projects in Pakistan, where the shoes are made (the workers have chosen to put the money primarily towards healthcare) and in India, where the rubber is grown.

What does it cost?

It can cost more to shop ethically but by cutting out importing costs and buying direct from the manufacturer – and thanks to volunteer parent labour! – our new uniform is excellent value for money. A complete price list is provided on the order form.

Is it compulsory?

Our uniform policy remains unchanged: the uniform is optional. You are welcome to buy any of the uniform items for your child, but need not buy any of them. Your children are encouraged to continue wearing the old-style uniform if you have it, and please buy second-hand uniform items from the school fair at the end of the year – super cheap! Remember to donate outgrown uniform items and schoolbags to the fair, too.

Sports uniforms

Children in school sports teams (generally only Grades 5 & 6) are encouraged to wear the sports uniform to present a team image. The sports top can be paired with the black shorts or leggings, white socks and black sneakers.

Name your uniform

The school strongly recommends labelling all clothing your child may wear to school, most especially the uniform as they all look the same! The clothing items of the new uniform each bear a blank, white label sewn inside on which you can write your child's name in pen.

Alternately, sew-in and iron-on labels bearing your child's name may be bought from Cash's who are a local manufacturer. The name tapes are made in a factory in Leongatha, while the company office is in Port Melbourne. Identikid and Stuck on You also sell personalised iron-on labels for clothes and stick-on labels for shoes (plus lunch boxes, water bottles, everything!).

Volunteer!

We hope to continue to improve the uniform – ethically and environmentally – and welcome your input. Parent volunteers to help organise the uniform are always welcome, whether you have bookkeeping, stock-management, photography, copy-writing, web-design or graphic design skills, or can help out on a stall now and then. We’d love to hear from you. Please contact the office. Parents who volunteer for 4 or more uniform stalls/year will be exempt from the $80 grounds maintenance levy.